When setting up and using your LongMill, there can be multiple items that may draw power. However, there are three major ones that will make the most impact: the CNC machine itself, the router, and the dust collection system.
Please note that the power supply and other hardware supplied by us are only compatible with North American voltages (110V/120V at 50Hz/60Hz), and customers who are using other voltages should double-check the compatibility of their machine for their country before purchase and setup.
Customers with 220V/240V power
If you live in a country with 220V/240V power, our standard LongMill MK2 power adapter must use a transformer with a rating above 300 watts to convert their power to 110V/120V. Although alternative power supplies may work, we highly recommend using a transformer as our power adapters are specially tested and designed for this application and we cannot guarantee proper safety and performance from other adapters.
Power draw of the LongMill
The LongMill’s maximum power draw is approximately 240 watts. In most scenarios, during active carving, the LongMill consumes around 170 to 200 watts. This is to power the motors that move all three axis.
Power draw of the router
Although different routers and spindles will consume different amounts of power, the Makita RT0701 that we recommend with all LongMills has a maximum power draw of 715 watts. Please note that the Makita RT0701 electronically controls its torque, which means that during regular use, the router uses less than 715 watts.
Power draw of the dust collector
Although not mandatory, most users will have a dust collector of some kind with their machine. Your dust collection system will likely be the largest draw of power in your system. Our research shows that shop vacs generally draw around 1000-1500 watts of power.
Because of the higher draw that your dust collection may have, we generally would recommend using a separate breaker if possible to prevent any chance of tripping your breaker.
How should I plan out power in my shop?
Most household breakers in the US and Canada are 15A or 20A breakers, which can handle roughly 1800 watts and 2400 watts respectively. If we add the peak power draw of the LongMill and the router (240 watts +715 watts), we have roughly 955 watts of max power draw. On a 15A breaker, this would give us around 845 watts of extra power before the breaker trips.
845 watts of headroom doesn’t give us any room if we use a dust collection system that draws over 1000 watts which means that the chance of running into tripping the breaker or overloading your circuits increases.
This is what we recommend for 15A breakers:
Put the LongMill and the router on one circuit. You can also put your computer and other accessories on this circuit.
Put your dust collection system on another circuit. This prevents the chance of overloading your circuit if your LongMill or router reaches peak power.